Labour explosively branded ‘institutionally RACIST’ by one of its own MPs

In what the former frontbencher called a "very painful" admission, he said: "If you look at the definition of institutional racism as outlined by Sir William Macpherson in the Macpherson Report and the Macpherson Inquiry produced the institutional racism definition.

"The Labour Party, it's beyond doubt for me that it has met it – it's very painful for me to say that."

The Streatham MP added he would stay as a Labour member because he felt it was better to "try and argue and see change through in an organisation" rather than "leave the field".

The politician made the comments after being slammed for saying Jeremy Corbyn should "call off the dogs" to stop similarly centre-left MPs being hounded out of the party.

He said: "Calling anybody a dog is absolutely outrageous in the extreme, and Chuka Umunna of all people should know that.

"And I hope that when he comes onto your show this morning that he takes this opportunity of apologising to those people who he's offended immensely.

"These are the people who keep Chuka Umunna and myself and other MPs in a job."

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LABOUR: The Streatham MP added he would stay as a Labour member

Mr Umunna defended his remarks, saying: "The phrase that I used is a metaphor, it's a figure of speech."

Mr Lavery also said MPs should be "accountable" and expect to be challenged, after a number of Labour MPs who have been critical of Mr Jeremy Corbyn, particularly over his handling of the anti-Semitism row, have found themselves locked in battles with members of their constituency Labour party.

Labour Friends of Israel chairwoman Joan Ryan, a former minister under Tony Blair, and Luton South MP Gavin Shuker, both lost local no confidence votes on Thursday.

Labour has faced accusations of anti-Semitism as senior figures have demanded the leadership take firm action to prove the party is not hostile to the Jewish community.